Passions

Oh joy! The new students have arrived, and I've done nothing but (literally) run all morning. Let's see if I can get a post off, without it becoming too fragmented by typing in free moments....

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I've been pondering passion lately, trying to make out what I'm passionate about. I've realized that if I'm to work with things I love to make a living, I'll need to do so clearly understanding just what it is I love - not just what I like.

Here's what I've discovered so far:

* I'm passionate about nature. I enjoy being in the natural world, learning about how nature operates and working with growing things. I love my gardening, and helping to create organic produce (together with the soil, water, sun and other miracles not of my doing).

* I'm passionate about organic. I believe naturally-grown, unharmed by chemicals and with as little interference on the part of man as possible is the best way to go. Everything from food to cotton, houses to clothing.

* I'm passionate about the environment. I don't believe it's too late for us to make positive changes, and I want to be sure I do as little damage to it as possible. I want to help others realize what their action/inaction can do too.

* I'm passionate about food. Good food, crafted with love and enjoyed with relish. Home-made, from-scratch, using the best natural and local ingredients. I need to practice what I'm passionate about though, as too often I settle for less.

* I'm passionate about texture. I love the feel of raw silk, real heavy linen, pure cotton, wood grain, soft wool. Natural textures that I can run my hands over and feel against my skin.

* I'm passionate about light. I relish the natural daylight as it changes from morning to night, and can't live without windows. I love candle-light and firelight, the reflection of the moon on water.

* I'm passionate about colour. The kind of colour you'd find in the sky and the ground and the trees. Smokey blues, undyed and unbleached textiles, the hints of grey after the rain, sunset purples against a midnight-blue sky, deep greens in a forest. Splashes of paint on canvas in bold and muted tones. Glints of gold and the sparkle of crystals.

* I'm passionate about comfort. I believe in soft edges in life and in living. A place to be where you can just be yourself, and comfortable surroundings to do so. Warm blankets to cuddle up with, soft floors to walk on, clothes that look good and feel good, and of course comfort food! :)

* I'm passionate about nifty, cool goodies. Technology that helps you live, but not by destroying things in the process. Things that make you go "WOW!". New ideas and innovations.

* I'm passionate about hand-made. I believe in lovingly crafted items that last for generations, not mass-produced plastic junk. I know that the thought and creativity that goes into planning, designing and creating something is worth more than simply buying and discarding.

* I'm passionate about nostalgia. I enjoy realizing there's a history to me, my family, the world I live in - and looking back to see what's made us who/where we are.

* I'm passionate about simplicity and serenity. I believe things should be as simple as possible, but no simpler. I know that an uncrowded existence enhances serenity in mind and body and soul, that your environment and way of life influences how you'll cope with both.

Looking at these passions, I've found I have direction. I'm starting to know what I need to do, and how I need to do it. I think I've discovered a work I can love and where I'm headed next. Passionately.